Portable trash baler

ABSTRACT

A boxlike structure having a plate movable therein by the forks of a lift truck to compact trash confined in the structure. Ramps receive the front wheels of the lift truck to enable the weight of the truck to retain the structure in place during trash compaction. Also engageable with lift truck forks are means on the structures underside to enable convenient transport from one site to another.

United States Patent Inventor Ray D. Mayfield 8424 S.W. 30th Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97219 Appl. No. 878,644 Filed Nov. 21, 1969 Patented July 20, 1971 PORTABLE TRASH BALER 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 100/34, 100/3, 100/100, l00/226, 100/229, 100/250, 100/252, 100/295 Int. Cl Bb 13/20 Field of Search /3, 34,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilson et al.

Allen Taylor Brawley et al.. Foulke Corbett Primary Examiner-Billy .l. Wilhite Attorney-James D. Givnan, Jr.

100/226 100/226 100/100 X 100/100 X 100/100 X 100/229 X ABSTRACT: A boxlike structure having a plate movable therein by the forks of a lift truck to compact trash confined in the structure. Ramps receive the front wheels of the lift truck to enable the weight of the truck to retain the structure in place during trash compaction. Also engageable with lift truck forks are means on the structures undenside to enable convenient transport from one site to another.

PATENTED JUL20 l97| RAY D. MAYFIELD INVENTOR PORTABLE TRASH BALER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally totrash balers and more importantly to a trash baler of simple, low cost construction and one operable in conjunction with a lift truck.

For economical disposal of trash ithas proved practical to compact and bale trash to facilitate convenient storage and ultimate transport away to a dump site. To accomplish con solidation of trash into bales for convenient handling, various machines have been devised. Such machines enable a large volume of assorted trash to be compressed into a high density bale for ease of storage and later transport. In plant or store operations where a considerable volumeoftrash is generated each day the problem of disposal becomes a serious one. With the advent of burning restrictions, enacted by cities and counties to alleviate air pollution, theproblem of trash disposal has become critical.

While trash baling machines are available they are costly and hence practical for only large concerns. Further, they are to a large extent, of a size which prohibits their movement from one site to another within a'plant, store, etc. Contributing to their expense is the fact that they must have adequate powering means to compact a wide variety of materials. Such means is usually embodied inhydraulic cylinders integral with the baler.

It is an object of the present baler to utilize an outside source of power in the formof a lift truck andparticularly the forks thereof. The novel use so permitted contributes significantly toward providinga low "cost'baler.

Further the present baler is of a size for convenient transport within a plant, warehouse,etc. to different collection locations, such mobility not being possible with conventional balers.

SUMMARY OF'THEINVENTION The present invention is embodied within a boxlike structure having a compaction plate assembly there within, which is operably moved by the forks of a conventional lift truck. Means are provided enabling the compresses trash to be tied prior to removal from the baler. A closure plate is hinged for movement 'to an open, trash receiving position, and subsequently closable and lockable during upward compaction of the trash. The compressed trash is transported on the compac tion plate during removal from the baler to an off-loading location at a bale storage site. Ramps extend outwardly from the baler structure to permit the lift trucks weight to be imparted to the baler structure to retain same while an upward force is imparted to the compaction plate. The closure plate is spring biased to an open position to provide a large trash receiver opening in the structure. Means engageable by the lift truck forks on the underside of the baler structure provide for convenient lift truck transport of the baler to various in-plant locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof thepresent baler;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the baler with a lift truck operatively associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational viewof the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compaction plate assembly having a bale of compressed trash shown thereon in phantom lines; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the grooved lower surface of theclosure plate.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continuing reference to'th'e accompanying drawing wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly identified in the.followingspecifications the reference numeral lo indicatesgenerally a'welde'dboxlike structure.

The structure is formed of welded steel plates comprising a pair of sidewalls 11 and an intermediate rear wall 12 coterminus therewith. A bottom wall ll3ucl0ses the lower end of the structure.

Affixed to the underside of bottom wall 13 are a pair of inverted channel members 14 disposed crosswise of the box structure '10 and in parallel relationship to receive lift truck forks as hereinafter elaborated upon.

A locking arrangement for the baler closure plate (later described) is provided in the form of vertical channels 15 welded to end extending upwardly beyond each of the sidewalls III. The channels are apertured at 16 adjacent their upper ends to receive a locking bar 17 extending therebetween. Indicated at 18 is a hingedly mounted top closure plate which in its raised position (broken line position in FIG. 2) permits deposit of trash into the baler. In its closed position the lockingbar i7 retains plate 18 position against upward trash compressing forces.

With attention to FIG. 3 a spring biased hinge assembly for closure plate I8 is indicated generally at 20. The hinge assembly includes a shaft 21 journaled at its ends at 22 within brackets 23, the latter being secured to the back wall 12 of the baler. Mounted on shaft 21 are forwardly projecting cars 24 which are secured to the upper surface of closure plate 18 by weldments 25. Disposed along the shaft 21 are helical springs 26 biasing the plate 18 to a raised position.

Shown in FIG. 4 is the compaction plate assembly indicated generally at 27. The assembly includes an upright front plate 28 substantially closing the front side of the box structure 10 and further a right angularly extending compaction plate 30, the latter being of a size to occupy the area defined by sidewalls II and rear wall 12 ofstructure 12. The plates 28 and 30 are secured by a weldment along their common edges with additional rigidity being provided by gussets 31, also welded thereto. The restricted height of the gussets 31 is such as to avoid interference with compaction movement at the up permost limit of travel of the plate assembly. To receive the forks of a lift truck, channel sections at 32 are secured to the underside of plate 30 and define forward openings at 33 suitably spaced for fork reception.

To enable convenient baling or tying of the compacted trash the vertical front plate 2.8 is slotted as at 28A to admit wire used in the tying. Similarly, the upper surface of compaction plate 30 is provided with corresponding grooves at 30A (FIG. 4) along which the wire end may be inserted in the tying operation. With reference to FIG. 3, the rear wall 12 is provided with slots 12A registerable with grooves 30A to permit passage of the wire ends. FIG. 5 shows in section the bottom surface of plate l8 wherein grooves 18A are provided for passage therealong of inserted wires.

Important to the present invention is the feature of utilizing the lift trucks weight to resist the upward compaction force applied by the lift truck forks. Retention means at 34 receive the front wheels of a lift truck as shown in FIG. 2 and comprise ramps 34 welded at their inner ends to an inverted channel member 14 and the forward edge of the bottom wall 13. Accordingly the structure then is held securely in place on the plant floor during trash compaction.

The baler may be conveniently spotted at a site within the using facility by transport via a lift truck as earlier mentioned. Closure plate 18, upon removal of the locking bar 17 will open to permit deposit of trash into the structure. The compaction plate assembly 27 is at rest on thestructures bottom wall 13 and thereat receives the deposited trash. The plate 18 is closed and locked when it is desired tocompress the deposited trash whereupon a lift truck is driven into place on the ramps 34 with the truck's forks inserted beneath into openings 33 below the compaction plate. A slight forward tilting of the lift truck s mast at 36 assembly may be required for desired positioning of the forks. The light nature of the trash suitable for compaction in the present baler will allow rapid upward movement of the compaction plate assembly 27 by the forks to impact the plate 30 and trash thereon upwardly against closure plate 18.

With the forks of the lift truck in a raised position and their control in the hold" position the baling wires are inserted through slots 28A with the wire ends being pushed along grooves 30A and 18A for emergence through slots 12A.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire to secure by a Letters Patent is:

lclaim:

l. A trash baler usable in conjunction with a lift truck, said baler comprising in combination,

a boxlike structure for the reception of trash including a positionable closure plate,

locking means for said closure plate,

a compaction plate assembly including a compaction plate disposed within said boxlike structure and adapted for vertical trash compacting movement,

said compaction plate adapted to subjacently receive the forks of a lift truck for imparting the vertical movement to said plate, and

retention means integral with said boxlike structure to receive the front wheels of a lift truck during fork engagement with said compaction plate to retain said structure in place during upward trash compacting movement of the forks.

2. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said structure includes means spacing the structure vertically from a supporting floor surface to permit insertion of lift truck forks beneath said structure whereby the entire trash baler may be lifted for transport by the lift truck.

3. The trash baler as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means comprises fork receiving members affixed to the lower end of the boxlike structure.

4. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compaction plate in its lowermost position is upwardly spaced from the lower end of the boxlike structure to permit insertion of the lift truck forks below said compaction plate for subsequent trash compacting movement of the plate.

5. The trash baler as claimed in claim 4 wherein said compaction plate subjacently mounts channel sections which serve to space said plate upwardly from the lower end of the boxlike structure.

6. The trash baler as claimed in claim I wherein said retention means comprises forwardly projecting ramps to receive the front wheels of a lift truck for retention of the boxlike structure during upward trash compacting movement of said compaction plate.

7. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boxlike structure includes a pair of sidewalls and a rear wall leaving an open frontal area, said compaction plate assembly further including an upright front plate to close said structure when said assembly is in its lowermost position, said upright front plate serving to confine the trash during compaction, and said compaction plate assembly being removable from the boxlike structure for transfer of compacted trash while in place on the compaction plate.

8. The trash baler as claimed in claim 7 wherein said upright and compaction plate have relieved areas formed therein, and said rear wall and closure plate of the boxlike structure additionally having relieved areas, all of said areas facilitating the encompassing of the compacted trash by inserted and tied WIICS. 

1. A trash baler usable in conjunction with a lift truck, said baler comprising in combination, a boxlike structure for the reception of trash including a positionable closure plate, locking means for said closure plate, a compaction plate assembly including a compaction plate disposed within said boxlike structure and adapted for vertical trash compacting movement, said compaction plate adapted to subjacently receive the forks of a lift truck for imparting the vertical movement to said plate, and retention means integral with said boxlike structure to receive the front wheels of a lift truck during fork engagement with said compaction plate to retain said structure in place during upward trash compacting movement of the forks.
 2. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said structure includes means spacing the structure vertically from a supporting floor surface to permit insertion of lift truck forks beneath said structure whereby the entire trash baler may be lifted for transport by the lift truck.
 3. The trash baler as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means comprises fork receiving members affixed to the lower end of the boxlike structure.
 4. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compaction plate in its lowermost position is upwardly spaced from the lower end of the boxlike structure to permit insertion of the lift truck forks below said compaction plate for subsequent trash compacting movement of the plate.
 5. The trash baler as claimed in claim 4 wherein said compaction plate subjacently mounts channel sections which serve to space said plate upwardly from the lower end of the boxlike structure.
 6. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retention means comprises forwardly projecting ramps to receive the front wheels of a lift truck for retention of the boxlike structure during upward trash compacting movement of said compaction plate.
 7. The trash baler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boxlike structure includes a pair of sidewalls and a rear wall leaving an open frontal area, said compaction plate assembly further including an upright front plate to close said structure when said assembly is in its lowermost position, said upright front plate serving to confine the trash during compaction, and said compaction plate assembly being removable from the boxlike structure for transfer of compacted trash while in place on the compaction plate.
 8. The trash baler as claimed in claim 7 wherein said upright and compaction plate have relieved areas formed therein, and said rear wall and closure plate of the boxlike structure additionally Having relieved areas, all of said areas facilitating the encompassing of the compacted trash by inserted and tied wires. 